The GRE is Over and Other Things!
I have taken the GRE! Thank God that is over. My mind has been swirling with so many GRE words that I give blank looks when someone speaks common English to me. Well, it’s not that bad, but the night before the GRE someone asked me my age and I said "28." My brother had to gently remind me that I was only 26. I can define "obstreperous" but can’t remember my age. This means I’ll fit in at most grad schools!
Anyway, I did very well. I am not bragging, and I absolutely hate the competition among grad students who share their scores on tests as a means to feel better about themselves, even though they feign humility. You’ll just have to take my word that I am not trying to brag or one-up anybody. I mention my performance because many in cyberspace have been concerned and have offered their prayers. My verbal score was in the 700s (the most important score for my field) and my Quantitative score was in the 600s, 100 less than my Verbal. The writing portion won’t be graded for a few weeks. I am pleased, and thank you for your prayers.
I am still not convinced the GRE tells us much of anything. Perhaps it means I have a knack for comprehending writers who purposely use big words when they don’t have to? That always comes in handy. Well, joking aside, I think the GRE serves some purpose, but a 120 dollar purpose…I am not sure.
Note: the image is from http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~wwu/images/gre/thirds.gif, and is a photo of the GRE’s practice software. I did not bring a camera into the testing center!!!
December 3rd, 2004 at 5:21 pm
I remember taking the GREs in 1973. The Chemists all sat at a table that was directly across from the Sociologists. We chemical types labored mightily through the verbal stuff, while the sociologists seemed to be enjoying themselves.
Then it was time for the math part. I sat there after double checking my answers, thinking about lunch, while the sociology table engaged in collective moans.
Believe me, in 30 years, this will all be a pleasant (and unimportant) memory.
David+
December 5th, 2004 at 9:59 am
David,
Nice to hear from you! I hope your Advent is going well. I always like to hear GRE stories. What you describe is pretty true I bet, almost to a person. I struggled with the Math so much I thought I might not get a single one right! Then I thought about how scores of math and science majors ace it. I guess some of us are wired differently. Then we have folks like you, who can do both chemistry and theology, and do them both well! Honestly, that is a great accomplishment.